BLTC Serving ACES Project

by Nick Cumming in Ballymena, Mid and East Antrim, United Kingdom

We did it
On 9th June 2023 we successfully raised £15,015 ( + est. £1822.50 Gift Aid ) with 79 supporters in 49 days

This project aims to ADVANCE player skills, develop COMMUNITY links, ENHANCE club equipment and increase members' ability to SOCIALISE

by Nick Cumming in Ballymena, Mid and East Antrim, United Kingdom

 New stretch target

Provide screening for the fences around our courts so as to give better protection against the elements bearing in mind our elevated and exposed location and purchase a weatherproof storage shed so that all equipment used by the Club can be kept on site


Who are we?

We are a tennis club with 5 courts based on school property.  Our members range from age 4 to 87 and come from different backgrounds including several different nationalities.

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Why are we crowdfunding?


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BLTC would like to broaden its player base and build on its community club ethos by offering targeted coaching to specific groups including children with special educational needs, disabled members of the community, foreign nationals new to the area and senior citizens to help keep older players active both physically and mentally.  To achieve this we will need to pay for additional club members to attend courses to gain an accredited coaching qualification.

We wish to purchase a weatherproof noticeboard to keep members advised of upcoming activities and events and new outdoor seating to give them increased ability to socialise when not on court.  The Club is in quite an exposed location and may benefit from installation of screening around the court fences.  It also needs a replacement store for its equipment which currently cannot all be kept on site. 

If we can raise the sum of  5000.00 through crowdfunding this amount can be matched by a grant from Sport NI.  The total sum of  10000.00 would really help us to achieve BLTC's Serving ACES Project goals.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don't delay if you're going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. If you want to run your own fundraiser to support us, maybe a sponsored activity or similar, use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won't need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

How we'll spend the money raised

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To achieve the aim of coaching provision for the targeted groups above, we will need more of our members to receive the training required to obtain an accredited coaching qualification.  Tennis Ireland plans to run a Level One coaching course in Belfast over 4 weeks from mid-April and we hope that at least 3 of our existing members will be able to attend.  This course includes a training module about basic skills required when coaching people with disabilities such as ADHD and autism. Tennis Ireland also hopes to provide a one day Tennis Leaders course which should be of interest to older juniors or to parents who may be prepared to assist BLTC coaches on a volunteer basis.  We have identified a basic signing course/Makaton training locally which would enable our coaches to acquire the skills necessary to offer tennis coaching to people with hearing loss and communication difficulties. The money raised by the Serving ACES Project will be needed to pay for the above coaching course fees and subsequently to pay the coaches as they seek to advance the tennis skills of the targeted groups.  It is anticipated that various free coaching courses will be offered over a six week period with each session lasting approximately one hour.

The remaining money would be spent on a weatherproof noticeboard and to purchase attractive and sturdy outdoor seating which would encourage and enable our members to spend time socialising with each other and any visitors to the club when not actually on court playing tennis.  Any remaining or additional money raised above our target could be used to provide an equipment store as our current storage boxes are too small for our needs and falling apart.  We would also like to buy protective screening for the fencing around our courts due to their exposed location.  

Community impact

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BLTC already draws its members from a varied cross-section of people within the community but we have never provided coaching specifically for older people or foreign nationals nor have we run coaching programmes tailored either to children with special educational needs or people with disabilities.  In doing so we would be introducing additional groups within society to the benefits and enjoyment which can be derived from playing tennis.  Some of our existing members intend to encourage their parents to attend the course for senior citizens.  We have contacted local schools about the courses we would like to run for children with special educational needs and several are very keen to avail of this opportunity for their pupils during the school summer term this year.  We are aware of adults locally who have either hearing or sight loss and who could benefit from training specifically designed for people with these disabilities.  We have also been in touch with Ballymena Ethnic Forum and interest has been shown in tennis coaching for foreign nationals new to the area by the local Ukrainian and Filipino communities. 

Rewards

This project offers rewards in return for your donation. Please select a reward below.

£5 or more

10 of 10 claimed

Henderson Spar vouchers of £10 each

Eurospar, Cullybackey vouchers for £10 each will be available to Serving ACES Project supporters in return for a pledge of at least £5

£10 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Haircut and Blowdry from Neil Smith Hairdressing

Neil Smith Hairdressing will provide a Serving ACES Project supporter with a voucher for a Haircut and Blowdry in return for a pledge of at least £10

£15 or more

10 of 10 claimed

Restring and new grip from Racket Solutions

Racket Solutions will provide Serving ACES project supporters with a racket restring and new grip worth £25 for a pledge of at least £15

£15 or more

10 of 10 claimed

Tennis Lessons (One to One) with a BLTC coach

The coaches at BLTC will offer Serving ACES Project supporters a One to One tennis lesson worth £25 for a pledge of at least £15

£35 or more

2 of 2 claimed

Ikea vouchers of £50 each

Ikea will offer Serving ACES Project supporters vouchers worth £50 each in return for a pledge of at least £35

£35 or more

2 of 2 claimed

B & Q vouchers of £50 each

B & Q will offer vouchers for £50 each to supporters of the Serving ACES Project in return for a pledge of at least £35

£75 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Family ticket for Magheramorne Estate Santa Trail

Magheramorne Estate will offer a Serving ACES Project supporter a family ticket for its Santa Trail worth £105 for a pledge of at least £75

£100 or more

1 of 1 claimed

Galgorm Spa day for 2 including lunch in Elements

Galgorm Resort and Spa will offer a Serving ACES Project supporter a voucher for 2 guests to have one day's access to its Thermal Spa including lunch for 2 served in Elements (voucher is valid from Monday to Thursday), voucher worth £150 for a pledge of at least £100

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